Combined window-cleaner and fire-escape



(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 1.

A. S(111,!1EFE.R.Y

I COMBINED WINDOW CLEANER AND EIDE ESCAPE. No. 400,121. Patented Mar. 2,6, 1889.

N0`Mode1.) 3 sheetssheet 2.

A. SGHAEFER. COMBINED WINDOW CLEANER AND FIRE ESCAPE.' No. 400,121. Patented MaI-.1261889.-

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

ASGHAEPER.

COMBINED WINDOW CLEANER AND PIRE ESCAPE. No. 400,121. Patented Mar. 26, 1889.

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QNUMLQ. www mmcmbm i UNITED f STATESl ATENT OFFICE.

AMALIE SCHAEFER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED WINDOW-CLEAN ER AND FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,121, dated March 26, 1889.

Application filed November 9, 1888.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMALIE SOHAEFER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Combined \Vindow-Cleaner and Fire-Escape, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices to be employed in buildings for the purpose of enabling artisans to cleanse the windows from without, and also as a fire-escape, and has for its object to provide means for accomplishing this result.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a side view of my device. Fig. 2 is a perspective view. Fig. 3 is a view of a portion of the front of the building with my device in position. Fig. 4. is a detail of the car. Fig. 5 is a detail of the mechanism for controlling the descent of the car.

Like parts are indicated by the same letter in all the figures.

A is the frame of the machine mounted on the casters B B. Journaled on this frame is the windlass C, having the crank D- at one end, together with the ratchet-wheel E and engaging-dog F, to lock the windows in position. Coiling upon the windlass are the ropes G G, which pass over the pulleys H H on the hinged frame J, and thence to the eyes K K on the sides of the car L. This car is provided with a hinged door, M, whereby it may be entered at one side, such door being thrown down when desired across the windowsill, so as to connect with the inside of the building. On the central portion of the windlass C is the friction-collar N, about which is placed the friction-strip O, one end of which is secured to the movable block P on the rod R, which is secured to the standard S on the frame. The block P is forced upward by the spiral spring T. The other end of the strip O is rigidly secured at the point U. Pivoted above the block is the lever V, having at one end an enlargement, the ends W W of which are at greater distances from the pivotal point than is the center of such end. Against the other end of this lever bears the spring X, which tends to keep such lever in the position indicated in Fig. 5. From this end of the lever V proceeds the rope Y down into Serial No. 290,369. (No model.)

keepers on the side of the car. The frame .l is hinged to the frame A.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: When the device is out of use, the windlass is rotated by means of the crank D until the car is brought up into immediate proximity with the pulleys I-I I-I. The frame J is then inwardly swung, as shown in Fig. l, so that the frame J and car L will be virtually contained within the outlines of the frame A. When in this condition, the device may be moved within the building to any desired position.

When the device is to be employed as a fire-escape or window-cleaner, or for other purposes where it is necessary to have access to the outside of the building or to descend along the same, the machine is moved in front of a window, as shown in Fig. l, and the frame J is turned on its hinges so that its pulleysupporting arms project from such Window, as indicated in Fig. 3, and thus the car is permitted to descend.

To facilitate entrance into and exit from the car, the door M is turned down upon its hinges until it lies across the window-sill. In this position the machine is ready for use, and the dog F is freed from the ratchet-wheel E. The lever V is thrown over into the position indicated in Fig. 5 in full lines by the spring X, forces the block P downward, and thus applies the friction-strip O to the collar N, so as to lock the windlass from motion and prevent the car and its contents from descending. If, now, the occupant of the car desires to descend along the building, he will gently pull the rope Y until the lever V is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, whereupon, the grip of the friction-strip being loosened, the windlass will permit the car to descend. Should the occupant pull the rope Y too far, the lever V will be carried over into a position at an angle to that shown in the dotted lines, whereupon the block P will be forced downwardly and the descent of the car will be stopped, so that it is only by holding the rope so as to keep the lever V in a certain fixed position that the car will be permitted to descend. This dem'ce thus operates as a safety release. The car can `be drawn up by the use of the windlass.

Having thus described my invention, what I IOO claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, that by rocking such lever on its pivotal point Io is as follows: the slide may be reoiprocated to loosen or The combination of a vertically-moving tighten the friction-belt, and thus control the ear with a windlass and ropes therefrom to rotation of the wndlass.

support the car, and a friction-strap about l such windlass and connected at one end with AMALIE DCHAEFER' n spring-actuated slide, and a pivotecl lever Titnessesz which engages such slide at one end, and a lERANCIS NV. PARKER,

rope Secured to the other end of the lever, so FRANCIS M. IRELAND. 

